Machine for forming bicycle-hangers



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

, P. P ORG.

MAUHINE FOR FORMING BICYCLE HANGERS.

No, 550,750. Patented Dec. 3, 1895.

V 5 I1 a 1% 1) ML i" 00 :3: f Y? I I r i\ bw 6 0 T; )g/$ I Fig.2. ig 5 WITNESSES. INVENTUR- ANDRIW lGliMilM. PNOTUMTHD WASH'NGTUNJIZ,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2. V

P. FORG.

MACHINE FOR FORMING BICYCLE HANGERS.

No. 550.750. Patented Dec. 3, 1895'.

lgQMw/MMM F57? UNITED STATES ATENT UFFIQE,

PETER FORG, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSE TS.

MACHINE FOR FORMING BICYCLE-HANGERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,750, dated December 3, 1895.

Application filed May 16, 1895. Serial No. 549,477. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER FORG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Machines for Forming Bicycle-Hangers, of which the following description, in con nection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to provide a machine or apparatus by which a metal tube may be provided with one or more outwardlyextended hollow bosses or tubular projections without destroying the integrity of the said tube, so that the tube remains closed or integral and of circular form in cross-section.

The apparatus or machine is especially designed and adapted for producing, among other things, hangers for bicycles. These hangers are employed to support the shaft to which the pedal arms or cranks are secured and form the connecting means by which the brace rods or bars of the framework are coupled or joined together to form a solid frame. It is especially desirous in bicycles to make the various parts as light as possible consistent with stren gth, and therefore the hangers of bicycles are made of substantially small diameter. Heretofore these hangers have been made in various ways but in every case known to me the integrity of the tube from which the hanger is made has been destroyed, either by making the hanger in two parts and fastening the same together to complete the tube-as, for

instance, by means of bolts extended through ears on the two halves or parts of the tube or hangeror by cutting or otherwise removing a part from the tube sufficiently large for the insertion radially into the tube of a suitable tool for forming the hollow bosses or projections to which the frame rods or pipes are secured.

l-leretofore it has been considered practicallyimpossible to form the hollow bosses or projections on a tube of substantially small diameter so as to preserve the integrity of the tube and have the completed hanger retain its circular form.

In accordance with this invention I have provided an apparatus by which a metal tube of substantially small'diameter may have one or more outwardly-extended hollow bosses or projections formed on it and out of the metal of the said tube and yet leave the saidtube closed or integral and of circular form, the same as it was before the hollow bosses or projections were formed. The closed or integral tube of substantially small diameter, with its outwardly-extended hollow bosses or projec tions, is especially well adapted for use as a hanger on bicycles, as it is stronger, lighter, and cheaper than non-integral hangers as now commonly made and known to me.

The apparatus or machine by which my improved hangers may be made comprises two essential elementsnamely, a former or anvil and a plunger or die of novel construction, as will be described, the anvil operating from within the tube and the plunger or die from without the said tube.

The former or anvil referred to is provided with one or more suitably-shaped nubs or boss-forming projections, according to the number of hollow bosses it is desired to form in one operation of the plunger or die, and the metal of the tube is forced down over and about the said nub or nubs.

The boss-forming nub constitutes a radial arm of the former or anvil, and the outer or upper surface of the said nub is preferably in the same circle as the lower or opposite surface of the anvil, which circle is of substantially the same diameter as the inner diameter of the tube, so that when the said tube is fitted on or over the anvil its inner circumference preferably makes contact with the nub and the opposite or bottom surface of the anvil. The nub or radial arm of the anvil projects above the top or upper surface of the anvil preferably a distance substantially equal to the length it is desired the hollow boss should be, which is formed by said anvil, and the die or plunger forces that portion of the tube in contact with the nub down over and about the same. When the upper part of the tube is forced downward by the die or plunger, it is practically necessary that the portion of the tube of which the hollow boss is formed should retain its circular shape, so that the shape of the tube when provided with the hollow boss may be circular and of the original form. This result may be and is accomplished in the present instance by makin g the upper surface of the anvil from which the nub or radial arm projects in the arc of a circle having the same or substantially the same radius as the internal circumference of the tube, and preferably the lower surface of the anvil will be made in the arc of the same circlethat is, in the preferred form of the anvil the upper surface and the lower surface of the anvil are arcs of circles having the same radius but different centers. The die or plunger is made to co-operate with the nub or boss-forming arm of the anvil, as will be described. These and other features of this invention will be pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 represents in elevation and section a sufficient portion of one form of apparatus embodying this invention to enable it to be understood, the operating parts being shown in elevation and the tube which is to be formed into the hanger being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 looking toward the left, the support for the anvil or former being shown in its withdrawn position; Fig. 3, a partial section and elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 looking toward the left, the die or plunger being shown'in section in its lowered position and the support for the anvil being shown in its forward or operative position. Fig. 4 is a detail, on an enlarged scale, showing the anvil and the tube in their first position with relation to each other; Fig. 5, a detail of the anvil and tube, showing the latter in its second position; Fig. 6, a detail of the tube shown in Fig. 5 removed from the anvil; Fig. 7, a longitudinal section of the die or former employed to form two hollow bosses or projections at the same time; Fig. 7*, a transverse section of the die shown in Fig. 7 on the line 7 7"; Fig. 8, an invertedplan or under side view of the die or plunger employed for forming the large hollow bosses or projections of the hanger; Fig. 9, a sectional detail on the line 9 9, Fig. 8, of the die shown therein; Fig. 10, a perspective view of one form of hc nger made in accordance with this invention and such as is now commonly employed in bicycles, and Fig. 11 a detail of the finishing-anvil to be referred to.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, A represents one form of anvil or former and A one form of die or plunger, which co-operates with the said anvil, as will be described.

The former or anvil A consists of a metal bar having its upper surface a made in the arc of a circle of substantially the same radius as the internal circumference of the tube and preferably having its lower surface -or bottom a (see Figs. 3 and 5) of a radius equal to the upper surface ta the upper surface having the center a and the bottom surface the center a. The upper surface has extended from it one or more nubs or projections a, forming practically radial arms, and the extreme outer surface of said nubs, for

the best results, substantially forms the same circle as the bottom surface CL of the said anvil. The nubs or projections a may be made integral with the anvil or they may be made detachable therefrom, after the manner represented in Fig. et-namely, by means of a countersunk screw a projecting up from the bottom surface of the anvil through and into a threaded socket in the under side of a bottom projection of, forming part of the nub a or in any other suitable manner.

In Fig. 4 the nub a is represented as provided with a small teat or projection a of a length not to exceed the thickness of the stock or metal of the tube B, which is to be formed into the hanger, and for the best results the teat a is made as small as possible, and preferably forms the extreme outer surface of the nub. The anvil A may and preferably will be formed by taking a circular bar or rod of a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the tube B and turning off the upper surface of the bar until it is less than the internal diameter of the tube 13, an amount substantially equal to the length it is desired that the nub a and its teat a should be, which length of nub is determined by the length of the hollow boss or projection to be formed by it. The upper portion of the circular bar is turned off until it coincides with the arc of a circle having its center at a and a radius equal to the radius of the original circular bar, both of which radii are substantially equal to the radius of the internal circumference of the tube B.

The anvil A may be supported in a suitable frame, and in the present instance the said anvil is shown as provided at one end with a rectangular portion 1), (see Figs. 1 and 2,) which is fitted between ears 1) 5 secured to or forming part of an upright 6 erected from a suitable base 19 the circular portion or end of the anvil being in practice preferably made longer than the length of the tube ]3, which is to be formed into the hanger and having its front end adapted to rest upon and be sustained by a movable support 19 the said support being shown as a block of metal provided with a substantially fiat upper surface 8 and with a curved or cut-away front surface 4, the said support being herein shown as provided on its under side with a dovetailed rib or fin b, fitted into a dovetailed slot or opening I)" (see Fig. 1) in the base I). In the present instance the movable support b is provided with a projecting rod 19 serving as a handle by which the support Z2 may be reciprocated on the base 19 In the present instance the anvil A is represented as secured in'position between the ears b b by a threaded clamping-bolt b extended through a threaded opening in the upright or ear (9. The base 17 may and preferably will have secured to or forming part of it at what may be termed its rear side an upright block 6 (see Fig. 1 and dotted herein shown the forward movement inthe direction indicated by arrow 20, Fig. 2, is limitedby a back-stop, herein represented as a disk or washer I9 secured to the support. 12 by the screw b and the movement of the said support in a rearward direction-that is, 1 opposite to that indicated by the arrow 20* may be limited by a pin D engaging the; front of the upright block b as represented in Figs. 1 and 2. 1

Referring to Fig. 10, I have shown a com-3 pleted' hanger which may be supposed to; have been formed from the tube B. (Represented in Figs. 1 and 2.) The hanger showni in Fig. 10 is provided with two substantially small hollow bosses or projections c 0, located 1 substantially near the opposite ends of the tube, and with two substantially large hollow projections or bosses 0 0 located near the longitudinal center of the tube B and in sub-j stantially close contact with each other. The hanger represented in Fig. 10 contains four hollow projections or bosses, and a hanger having this number of hollow projections or bosses is now commonly employed for form-1 ing part of a bicycle-frame as now commonly designed and made. i

The smaller hollowbosses c c of the hangerj shown in Fig. 10 may be supposed to be madei by the anvil A, provided with the two nubs? a, as shown in Fig. 1, and these two hollow bosses are formed or made in one operationi of the plunger or die A, which mayand pref-i erably will be of the construction represented; in Figs. 1, 7, and 7 it consisting of a metal-i lic block provided on its under surface with a longitudinally-extended circular cavity orj' semicircular groove made in substantially? the same are of the circle as the outer cir-f cumference of the tube B, the said longitudi nal cavity having communicating with it two circular holes or openings 0 c for the recep-i tion of the two nubs a on the anvil A, (shown in Fig. 1,) together with the metal of the tube. B, which is utilized in forming the hollow pro jections c c. The die or plunger A in prac-} tice is operated by power and may be suit-; ably supported to reciprocate above the anvil in any suitable'or usual manner, such as nowi commonly employed in the construction of power or drop or otherpresses. The smaller hollowbosses c c and the larger hollow bosses c 0 may be formed on the sameapparatus. by the employment of different anvils, or they may be formed on separate 1nachines,each equipped with the appropriate anvils.

If the larger hollow bosses c c are formed on the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the anvil AI forming the hollow bosses c 0 \Vhen the hollow bosses'c c arezto be formed, a'die or plunger ofsuitable shape'to form the said hollow bosses will be used.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have represented a die suitable for forming the hollow bosses c 0 which die I preferto letter A, it being provided with a longitudinal circular cavity or groove '0 communicating with the central opening 0 and with two circulartransverse cavities or grooves e 0 the circular cavities e 0 being made in the arc of a circle having a diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of the hollow bosses c 0 so that the two hollow bosses c 0 may be formedon the same machine by first forming one of the hollowbosse's-as, for instance, the hollow boss c and then turning the tube B, so that the hollow boss 0 will lie in one of the transverse circular grooves e 0 while the other hollow boss or projection c is being formed.

In manufacturing the particular hanger shown in Fig. 10 the hollow bosses c 0 may and preferably will be formed first. The tube B, which is complete and in one piece, is preferably first provided with a small hole e for the reception of the centering-teat a on the nub a of the anvil or former employed for forming the hollow bosses 0 c and the tube B is then preferably heated, if the tube is of hard metal, which heating expands the metal and enlarges the diameter of the tube sufficiently to permit the tube to be easily slipped over the anvil, clearing the teat a the said tube being turned until the teat a is in line with the small centering-hole referred to after the manner represented in Fig. 4.

By reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the upper surface a of the anvil orformer A is not in contact with the tube B, while its lower surface a and the surface a of the nub a are substantially in contact with the inner circumference of the said tube, and in practice the lower surface is separated from the tube by a distance equal to'the length of the teat a when the nub a -is provided with the said teat. The length of the teat a is very slight, and in Figsql and *2 this separation does not appear, whereas in Fig. 4 the teat a is shown in line with but not extended into the centering opening. The tube B is now properly positioned on the anvil and the die orrplunger A is brought with considerable force down over the tube B, which is carried downward by the said die until thelatter is arrested in'its downward movement by the anvil A, and at such time theupper portion of the tube B hasbeen brought in contact with and pressed over the upper surface a of the anvil, except that part of the tube which is opened and drawn out by the .die A, forcing the said tube overand around the nub 0, which latter and an annular portion of the tube enter the tubular opening 0 of the die and form or partially form the annular hollow boss or projection 0 as represented in Fig. 5. The die A.

is then withdrawn and the tube B may be raised from the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5 by means of the lever 12 after which it may be taken off from the anvil A and subjected, if desired, to a second operation, in a machine having a larger nub a on its anvil, (see Fig. 1.1,) by means of which the hollow boss may be elongated and given a more perfect annular shape. I prefer to employ two different anvils or formers for each hollow boss, one of which may be termed the starting-anvil and the other the finishing-anvil, but I do not desire to limit my invention in this respect, as satisfactory results may be obtained with one anvil. Having formed one hollow boss-as, for instance, the boss c the tube is turned on the anvil until the teat a on the nub a enters the centering-hole for the boss 0 and when properly positioned the die A is operated to form the boss 0 as above described, in relation to the boss 0 The bosses c 0 having been formed, the tube is placed 011 the anvil A (shown in Fig. 1) when it is desired to form the bosses c c in one operation, and the hollow boss 0 at such time projects downward from the under side of the anvil, while the boss 0 projects substantially upward in a lateral direction; but by reason of the transverse groove or cavity 0 which communicates with the longitudinal groove 0 of the die A, the upwardly-projecting boss 0 does not interfere with the operation of the die A in forming the two hollow bosses c c, as the walls of the transverse groove 0 in the descent of the die straddle the hollow boss 0 The hollow bosses c c, afterbeing formed with the anvil and die shown in Fig. 1, may be subjected, if desired, to a second operation on the anvil, having two nubs d of the proper diameter to give to the hollow bosses c c a more perfect cylindrical form and to elongate the metal walls of the said bosses. The tube 13 has now been formed into the hanger shown in Fig. 10, and in practice the hollow bosses c 0 may have connected to them the brace rods or bars running to the rear wheel of the bicycle, while the larger boss 0 has usually connected to it the saddle-post, and the larger boss 0 is connected by abracerod to the post carrying the handle-bars.

I prefer to employ two anvils in the formation of each hollow boss, or one anvil and two nubs, as a a; but I do not desire to limit my invention in this respect, as a single anvil having a single nub may produce satisfactory results. Furthermore, I prefer to provide what I have herein designated the startingnubs with the centering projections or teats a but while I prefer to use teats a they are not absolutely necessary, as they may be dispensed with, in which case the small hole need not absolutely be required, although I prefer to use the same as a means of starting the formation of the tubular bosses. The teats or projections c and the small holes first made in the tube for their reception insure accurate centering of the nubs, and therefore accurate formation of the various hollow bosses, in their proper position on the tube.

From the above description it will be seen that the tube from which the hanger shown in Fig. 10 is formed is not divided or weakened by taking a large part away therefrom, but remains closed and an integral piece, the same as it was before being subjected to the treatment above described. As aresult, the hanger is materially increased in strength, is lighter, and can be manufactured cheaper than hangers as now commonly made. Furthermore, Iprefer to make the lower surface of the anvil in the are of a circle having substantially the same radius as the internal circumference of the tube, as by this construction the anvil may be made of maximum thickness and therefore of maximum stiffness or strength to withstand the operation of the die; but so far as the essential features of this invention are concerned this formation of the lower part or surface of the anvil is not a necessity, as the said lower surface may be made substantially straight or in arcs of other circles, but at a sacrifice to the strength or stiffness of the anvil, which construction of anvil may be suitable for substantially soft metal, such as brass, but is not recommended for harder metals, such as steel.

I have illustrated and described one form of a machine or apparatus for providing closed or integral tubes with hollow bosses; but I do not desire to limit my invention to any particular form of bed, support for the anvil, and other minor parts, as these might be changed, providing the essential feature of the invention is not departed fromnan1ely, an anvil capable of fitting within the tube and having its surface, which receives the tube when acted upon by the die, of circular form and of a radius substantially equal to the radius of the internal circumference of the tube, together with a suitably-shaped cooperating die.

I claim- 1. In a machine or apparatus for providing tubes with outwardly extended hollow bosses or projections, the combination of the following instrumentalities,viz :an anvil or former to support the tube provided with an upper and a lower curved surface made in the arcs of circles having substantially the same radius but different centers, and aboss-forming nub or radial arm extended from one of said curved surfaces and having its outer surface substantially in the same circle as the other curved surface, and a die or plunger co-opcrating with said anvil and provided with a cavity or groove to fit over the tube, and with a hole for the reception of the said nub, for the purpose specified.

2. In a machine or apparatus for providing tubes with outwardly extended hollow bosses or projections, the combination of the following instrumentalities,viz :an anvil or former to support the tube provided with an upper and a lower curved surface made in the arcs ICC IIC

of circles having substantially the same radius but different centers, and a boss-forming nub or radial arm extended from one of said curved surfaces and having its outer surface substantially in the same circleas the other curved surface, and a die or plunger co-opcrating with said anvil and provided with a longitudinal groove or cavity to fit over the tube, a hole or opening for the reception of the nub, and a transverse groove or cavity for the reception of a formed hollow boss or projection, substantially as described.

3. In a machine or apparatus for providing tubes with outwardly extended hollow bosses or projections, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz :an anvil or former to support the tube provided with an upper and a lower curved surface made in the arcs of circles having substantially the same radi us but different centers, and a boss-forming nub or radial arm extended from one of said curved surfaces and having its outer surface substantially in the same circle as the other curved surface, and provided with a centering teat, and a die or plunger co-operating with said anvil and provided with a cavity or groove to fit over the said tube, and with a hole or opening for the reception of the said nub, substantially as described.

4. In a machine or apparatus for providing tubes with outwardly extended hollow bosses or projections, the combination of the followin g instrumentalities, viz :an anvil or former upon which the integral tube is fitted and having one of its surfaces in the arc of a circle of substantially the same radius as the internal circumference of the said tube, a boss-form ing nub or radial arm extended from the said curved surface and projecting beyond the same within the tube, and a die or plunger cooperating with the said anvil, for the purpose specified.

5. In a machine or apparatus for providing tubes with one or more outwardly extended hollow bosses or projections, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz :an anvil or former adapted to be inserted within the tube and having its surface, which receives the tube in the formation of the hollow boss, circular in form and of a radius substantially equal to the radius of the internal circumference of the tube, and provided with a boss-forming nub, and a die co-operating with the said anvil to force the tube over and about the said nub and into contact with the said circular face of the anvil, for the purpose specified.

6. In a machine or apparatus for providing tubes with one or more outwardly extended hollow bosses or projections, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz:-an anvil or former adapted to be inserted within the tube and having its surface, which receives the tube in the formation of the hollow boss, circular in form and of a radius substantially equal to the radius of the internal circumference of the tube, a boss forming nub or arm extended from said circular surface and provided with a centering teat, and a die or plunger co-operating with said anvil, substantially as described.

7. In a machine or apparatus for providing tubes with one or more outwardly extended hollow bosses or projections, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz:a starting anvil or former provided with the circular surface a the arm or nub a and the teat a a die co-operating with said anvil, a finishing anvil having the surface a and the nub a and a die cooperating with said finishing anvil, substantially as described.

8. An anvil for providing tubes with an outwardly extended hollow boss, consisting of a metal bar provided with a circular surface of substantially the same radius as the internal circumference of the tube operated on, and having a boss-forming nub extended from said surface and having its extreme outer surface in the arc of a circle having substantially the same radius as the said circular surface but made from a different center, whereby the said anvil may be inserted within an integral or closed tube having its internal circumference of a radius substantially equal to the said radii of the anvil, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PETER FORG. Witnesses:

JAS. H. CHURCHILL, J. MURPHY. 

